Chiefs wide receiver has 34 catches for 693 yards and 3 TDs

Santaluces wide receiver Khurazze Williams was not on the radar screen of any college football program when the season began. In fact, Santaluces coach Daryl Drinkwater didn't even know who he was.

Williams, who played football in Nebraska last year, returned to his native Palm Beach County for his senior year but did not show up at a Santaluces practice until late August. One of the Santaluces players who knew Williams had to convince Drinkwater to give the newcomer a chance to prove himself.

"I'm thinking, you know, this guy shows up in the middle of camp, he's probably a trouble-maker or something," Drinkwater said this week as the Chiefs (4-3) prepared for Friday night's District 10-8A game against John I. Leonard (1-6).

Conversely, the only trouble that Williams has caused this season has been for opposing defenses. The 5-foot-11, 160-pound senior has emerged as one of the county's surprise players. He's among the county's leading receivers with 34 catches for 673 yards and three touchdowns, second only to Cardinal Newman's Travis Rudolph, one of the state's top-rated Division I prospects. Amazingly, Williams has not dropped a single pass thrown his way, according to both him and Drinkwater.

Darrell Langham, Williams' teammate who has made a verbal commitment to the University of Miami, was the focus of college recruiters last spring before Williams showed up at Santaluces. Langham has been struggling lately with an ankle injury, but Williams has picked up the slack and has become the Chiefs' go-to target in the passing game.

"I always knew I had the talent, but I didn't feel like it would escalate as much as it has this year," said Williams, who played at Boca Raton and Pope John Paul II his freshman and sophomore years, respectively. "They've given me a lot of opportunities to do what I do, and I'm grateful for that."

Williams has made some highlight-film catches this season, but Drinkwater also praises him for his blocking as well as the clear-cut routes he runs.

"He does everything you ask him and he never complains. He's a dream to coach," said Drinkwater, now in his sixth season at Santaluces. "He is the best receiver I've coached since I've been here, and I've had Terrance Floyd [Wisconsin] and C. J. Roberts [Colorado State-Pueblo]. He's the best play-making wide receiver and [has] the best hands, period, that we've ever had. It's not even close."

Despite that high praise and his impressive stats, college recruiters have not been knocking down the door at Drinkwater's office to talk to Williams. He's not alone, however.

Palm Beach Central has one of the state's top prospects in offensive lineman Kc McDermott, also a Miami commit, but senior running back Tommy McDonald has played a key role in putting the Broncos in position to possibly win their second consecutive district title. McDonald leads the county with 952 yards rushing and has scored nine touchdowns. However, McDonald has yet to receive any college offers.

Palm Beach Central coach Rod Harris said that it's "very frustrating" that McDonald and senior wide receiver Rudy St. Germain, who Harris also believes can play at the next level, so far have been mostly ignored by college recruiters. Harris expects that to change once coaches watch film of them.

"It surprises me, but I believe once this season ends, all of them will start coming after me," said McDonald, who has clocked 4.43 in the 40.

Another player who was under-the-radar in August is Dwyer running back Alonzo Smith. When the season began, all the recruiting chatter was about the Panthers' talented trio of receivers Johnnie Dixon, Clinton Stephens and Ezra Saffold. But Smith has emerged as the county's second-leading rusher (865 yards) behind McDonald for the unbeaten Panthers.

The fact that Dwyer quarterback Daniel Parr has passed for almost 1,500 yards and thrown a state-leading 28 touchdowns makes Smith's rushing stats even more impressive.